Heart attack in winter: Cold weather increases the risk of heart attack in people who already have cardiovascular problems – learn the causes and how to prevent the risk of heart stroke.
Heart attack in winter: A drop in temperature can have unpredictable effects on your health, especially your heart. The most frequent health risk you face during winter is a cold, but many people associate this risk with serious conditions like hypothermia or frostbite and heart stroke. A heart attack is a risk at any age! Given the increased risk during winters and the existing high levels of pollution, it is all the more crucial to adopt the right strategies, maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent cardiac ailments.
Acute chest pain is one of the early warning signs of a heart attack.
An early warning sign of a heart attack in winter
- Cold constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Maintaining a healthy body temperature is also challenging, and winter winds can make it even harder because it speeds up the rate at which the body loses heat.
- Most hypertensive individuals report weight gain, clots, and high blood pressure as the weather begins to cool, all of which increase the risk of heart attack.
- In winter, smog and other pollutants tend to settle closer to the ground, making breathing problems and chest infections more likely.
- Low winter temperatures make you sweat less, and if your body can’t get rid of extra water, it can build up in the lungs, which can affect cardiac function.
External conditions and other risk factors, such as diabetes, blood pressure levels and other vascular disorders, should be managed to reduce the risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest. Cold weather affects the heart and circulatory function and puts more stress on the heart.
How to protect your heart during winter?
- Engage yourself in lots of physical activities like jogging, running and cycling.
- Indulge in a warm diet including soups, green leafy vegetables and fiber-rich foods.
- Follow up with your doctor, and get regular health checkups.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle with yoga, meditation and indoor activities.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol as much as possible.
Everyone should undergo timely preventive tests, assess family risks and risk factors, and take appropriate measures to reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent a sudden heart attack from getting worse. Don’t wait to get help. Any discomfort, chest tightness, sweating, shoulder pain, jaw pain, dizziness or nausea should not be ignored.
